Gerald Davies has vowed that there will be no “whingeing” from the Lions about their lack of preparation time ahead of the tour to Australia next summer.

Gerald Davies has vowed that there will be no “whingeing” from the Lions about their lack of preparation time ahead of the tour to Australia next summer.

The former Wales wing legend conceded that a tight schedule at the end of the season – the Lions’ first match against the Barbarians in Hong Kong is only a week after the end of the domestic season – represents a major hurdle for Warren Gatland and his party to overcome.

But Davies, now chairman of the Lions, insisted it will not be used as an excuse, and revealed that there may be a chance for the squad to meet up for a week prior to their official release for tour duty.

“We may meet a week or so in advance, we are looking at getting people in for a couple of weeks and then they can return,” said Davies.

“It is a tight schedule and we’re disappointed, but it couldn’t be changed.

“However my view is that we’re not going to moan or complain. We have what we have and we’ve got to get on with it.

“I always believe that whingeing is the first step towards losing.

“We have to just be flexible and make things as comfortable as possible for Warren and the squad.”

With the Lions not having won a series since the 2-1 success in South Africa in 1997, pressure is growing on the squad to remedy that losing streak against a team who are traditionally considered weaker than the Springboks and New Zealand.

But Davies refused to add to that pressure, emphasising that the intent to win among the tourists will be fierce.

“I don’t want to put a gullotine in place and say we have to win, but we are going there to win,” he added.

“We lost the series in South Africa (in 2009) but we still represented the Lions in the way people expect in terms of spirit and commitment.

“Winning the series though is of course what we’re aiming for.

“Wanting to win is a given if you are competitive. I like to think we’ll have the players capable of doing that. Good rugby players and good people because that is what a Lions tour needs.”

Davies, who played five Tests in all for the Lions over the tours to South Africa in 1968 and the memorable 1971 expedition to New Zealand, dismissed suggestions the Wallabies will be no match for a touring squad that will potentially be exceptionally strong.

“Australia are hugely competitive. They have a strong will to win, they are stubborn and will play to the final whistle,” he said.

“It is a huge challenge. People may say they are not as strong as they were but it is never easy to beat an Australian team.

“All players are always hugely motivated playing against the Lions whatever people may say.”

In all the Lions will play 10 matches next summer, including the Barbarians encounter on route to Australia.

And Davies says he hopes the provincial Australian sides will be as strong as possible, and feature Wallaby Test players.

“In South Africa in 2009 there was a policy of not playing Test players in provincial matches and we were disappointed by that,” he added.

“We want to play top teams and we want to be tested.

“As far as I understand the policy that the Springboks had will not apply in Australia.”

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